The internet has transformed our everyday lives, altering how we work, study, play, and even communicate with one another. While living in an increasingly digitalized world has many potential advantages, there are also hazards, such as easily falling prey to online scams.
There has always been fraud in various forms throughout history. However, with the introduction of the internet, even the oldest con tactics have been given new life, significantly expanding the possible rewards for con artists.

It’s also crucial to realize that internet fraud takes numerous complex forms. Inheritance fraud, bogus shopping scams, false employment offers, phony sweepstakes and lotteries, and online dating fraud are just a few of the numerous ways con artists may take advantage of our growing dependence on the internet.

But, despite this dependence, why has it become so easy for scammers to trick us? Let’s look at some of the most common reasons why various tricks designed to scam people are so effective.

1. Lack of Cybersecurity Knowledge

A compelling reason why internet users have become so easy to trick is the lack of adequate cybersecurity knowledge. For instance, many people use passwords that prioritize convenience over security. Others make the error of using the same password for financial and non-financial online accounts. As a result, hackers can easily find personally identifiable information using simple and well-crafted search keywords.

At a time like this, when so many people are working remotely, and 75% of them do it without security supervision or training, a lack of cybersecurity knowledge and awareness can be fatal. Many consumers and companies are unaware of the need for internet security, making it easier for scammers to exploit their ignorance.

2. We Often Act in a Hurry

Because time is important to us, the most common technique is to attempt to convince us to act quickly. Scammers are persistent in persuading people to choose without giving it much thought. For example, a caller may entice you with a too-good-to-be-true price on a vacation package. Consequently, you may feel compelled to act because the reward is only available for a short time. If you put off making a choice, your bargaining instincts will kick in and make you uneasy. The con artist will take advantage of your need to save money and make a fast transaction. As a result, you may carry out the plan without pausing to contemplate the bigger picture or check the integrity of the communication.

3. We Are Hardwired to Respect Authority

People like to have faith in people in positions of power. When someone in a position of authority or expertise makes a request, people are more likely to comply. Scammers may masquerade as higher-ups in an organization to pressure their victims to respond quickly. When time is of the essence, many individuals will not dare defy an order from someone in power. To trick their victims, fraudsters may masquerade as government officials, lawyers, executives of legitimate businesses, or subject-matter experts. This is so easy for scammers because we have been brainwashed to have total trust in all of these individuals in positions of authority. The best way to avoid falling prey to such scams is to find out who stands behind all the requests. Nuwber, a people search site, can find you information about the person who’s trying to trick you, such as their address, phone number, email address, and more.

4. The Need for Reciprocity

There is always a natural desire to repay people who have helped us by delivering a service or something in return. It has also been empirically shown that when favors are conferred upon them, individuals feel bound to reciprocate them. For example, social psychologists discovered that leaving a mint on the table after a meal raised tips by 3%. Consequently, when scammers provide us with essential information online, we are often obliged to reciprocate their kind gestures.

5. Human Error

Con artists gain experience with each scam they pull off, which they may use for future scam jobs. They know that individuals are often trusting and naive due to their human nature. So, these scammers understand how to manipulate people’s emotional weaknesses. Also, they can take advantage of victims during times of crisis when they are most confused, fearful, preoccupied, and impatient. The COVID-19 fraud is one such example.

6. Con Artists’ Wealth of Experience

Because of the long history of scam games, a certain amount of gathered information is handed down to the “next generation” of con artists. Many phishing emails are deliberately prepared to seem to be from a genuine source, and the tried-and-true methods and identities are usually built so that everything looks genuine—at least at first sight.

7. We Easily Get Distracted

Scams are becoming more common, and you may be targeted on a day when you are unwell, weary, or otherwise vulnerable. Because you are distracted by more pressing problems, you may ignore possible risks because you need to pay more attention to the specifics. In reality, thieves often strive to identify your weaknesses and exploit them. Being easily distracted is one such weakness that scammers prey on.

8. We Like to Help

Making a victim feel empathetic about helping the scam artist or the people the con artist pretends to represent is a typical approach in con games. For example, pleas for donating to natural disaster victims are effective at making people donate money to “charities.” Most often, even though you know it is unlikely to be real, you feel driven to assist “just in case.” Con artists understand that their victims want to believe they are doing good by donating to charity.

Conclusion

Fraudsters have more possibilities than ever before to exploit our sense of urgency and influence our emotions to encourage us to fall victim to their scams. Con artists depend on our human characteristics, such as our curiosity, regard for people in authority, and desire to aid others. Therefore, it may be tough to prevent a scam, but having control over powerful psychological tricks allows individuals to avoid becoming victims.